Obituary: Willie CrumrineWillie Harold Crumrine, 81 of Lamar, died Nov. 21, 2016, in Fort Smith. He was born October 7, 1935 in Johnson County to Mr. Walter H and Lucille (Dobbs) Crumrine. He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Wanda (Barber) Crumrine; one son, Rev. Ronnie (Alisa) Crumrine of Enterprise, Ala.; three grandchildren Joni Lewis, Ronnie Crumrine Jr., and Amy Hart; eight great-grandchildren, Cheyenne Williams, Shelby Williams, K...

Obituary: Tommy WatsonTommy Watson, 69, a resident of Russellville, formerly of Paragould, died Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born Aug. 15, 1947, in Jonesboro, to Fred Watson Jr. and Ruth Wood Watson. He graduated from Oak Grove High School near Paragould and soon joined the United States Navy, serving our country during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Second Baptist Church in Russellville and worked se...

O'Guinn named to Arkansas Public Service Commission postLITTLE ROCK — A 16-year veteran of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has been named to the panel that regulates utilities in the state. Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday appointed Kimberly Lindsey O'Guinn to a six-year term on the Arkansas Public Service Commission, replacing outgoing Commissioner Lamar Davis. O'Guinn is Hutchinson's second appointment to the three-member commission since taking office last year. O'Guinn is a Little...

Gas prices fall as the long Thanksgiving weekend approachesLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas motorists will be paying less to travel during the long Thanksgiving weekend as gasoline prices continue to fall. A survey of more than 300 gas outlets by national fuel analyst GasBuddy indicates average retail gasoline prices in Little Rock have fallen 3.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.91 per gallon on Sunday. The national average has fallen 1.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.13 per gallon. Su...

Public hearing set for Arkansas Ten Commandments monumentLITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas panel will hold a public hearing next month on plans to build a privately funded monument to the Ten Commandments near the state Capitol. A subcommittee of the State Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission on Monday set Dec. 14 as the date for its hearing to receive public comments on a proposal by the American Heritage and History Foundation to build the monument. The subcommittee will make a recommendation to the full c...

Recreation and Parks celebrating 50 yearsRecreation and Parks Director Mack Hollis told the Russellville City Council that the department's 50th anniversary reception was scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Hughes Community Center. In his report to the council, Hollis explained the department is responsible for three budgets that total $1.3 million, while personnel operate and maintain 23 parks that cover 792 acres. Work continues on Veterans Memorial Park off Lakefront Drive. H...

Community people: Randy Horton, Jock Davis, Harvey Young and Billy CockrillTHE COURIER / Submitted The History Channel partnered with Suddenlink Media to create the Take a Veteran to School event, which took place at the Russellville Upper Elementary Fifth Grade last week. Pictured (from left) are Mayor Randy Horton, Jock Davis, veteran and former superintendent Harvey Young, and Billy Cockrill, representative of Suddenlink.

Less fortunate welcomed for ThanksgivingIn recognition of those less fortunate, local organizations will provide meals to support citizens who might have gone without a holiday meal this Thanksgiving. The Salvation Army, off Weir Road in Russellville, partnered with Arkansas Tech University students and REACH, the Russellville Education Association for Christian Homeschoolers, to pack boxes to provide 244 families with Thanksgiving meals. Salvation Army Lieutenant Shannon Thorson sa...

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BY SIERRA MURPHY
murphy@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Authorities report total loss after house blazeThe Dardanelle Rural Fire Department responded to a house fire on South Fork Lane in Dardanelle shortly after the call came in to dispatch around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Fire Chief Tom Berryhill said the caller initially stated it was a chimney fire and called back stating flames were coming out of the roof which Berryhill said sounded like it was in the attic. Upon arrival, mutual aid was requested from the Dardanelle Fire Department, Delaware...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Student from Arkansas selected as Rhodes Scholar for 2017LITTLE ROCK — A college student from Arkansas is among 32 Americans selected as Rhodes Scholars and will pursue post-graduate studies at Oxford University in England. Little Rock resident Lauren C. Jackson is a senior at the University of Virginia where she is majoring in political and social thought. At Oxford, she plans to pursue master's degrees in global governance and diplomacy and refugee and forced migration studies. "I never in a milli...

Little Rock sees increase in misdemeanor marijuana arrestsLITTLE ROCK — Little Rock Police Department data shows police have made more misdemeanor marijuana arrests in 2016 compared to any of the previous four years. As of Nov. 9, Little Rock police have made 225 arrests in which misdemeanor marijuana possession was the only violation. That's a 95 percent increase compared to the number of arrests in 2012, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2gazW5i ) reported. Police spokesman Lt. Steve McC...

Obituary: Donald ElkinsCLARKSVILLE — Donald Eugene Elkins, 77, of Hartman, was born Oct. 9, 1939, in Clarksville, and died Nov. 18, 2016, in Clarksville. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dock and Mayme Reed Elkins; three brothers and a sister. Donald is survived by his wife, Jean Johnson Elkins; a son, Dondi Elkins (Becky) and a daughter, Melissa Walker (Allen), all of Hartman; a sister, Betty Resimont Sims of Clarksville; three grandchildren; and seven great...

Obituary: Audria LondonSEARCY— Audria Lee London, 87, of Dover, passed away Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. She was born June 25, 1929, in Jackson County, to Mr. Willis Kindred and Ms. Minnie (Teague) Carlyle. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Silvie Gray London; and three sons, Curtis, Larry, and Bryan. She is survived by one daughter, Beverly (Gary) Schultz of Dover; one son, Willis (Marianne) London of Bridgeview, Ill.; thirteen grandchildren, ten grea...

Obituary: Raymond StoutRaymond “Butch” Stout, 76, of Plainview, passed away, Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, at his home in Plainview. The son of Henry and Polly Hawkins Stout, he was born March 4, 1940, in Bigelow. He was a graduate of Plainview High School. He married Betty Mott Stout, on July 18, 1961, in Plainview. Butch was a repairman with Firestone for 35 years and was a member of the Plainview Fire Dept. for 10 years. Butch was a member of the Plainview First Baptist...

Obituary: James KlagATKINS — James Klag, 61, of Atkins, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, at Riverchase Nursing Center in Morrilton. He was born Nov. 7, 1955, in Boulder, Colo., son of the late Carl and Betty Klag. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Kathy Klag and a brother, Mike Klag. He is survived by his loving companion of 17 years, Nancy Luningham; son, Deryk; daughter, Jamie; granddaughter, Erica; and brothers and sisters-in-law, John Klag an...

Obituary: Maria WilliamsMCGEHEE— Maria Elisabeth Emma Karbstein Williams, 89, formerly of McGehee, passed away Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. She was born on April 23, 1927, in Breslau, Germany, to Erich and Wanda (Woiteck) Karbstein. Maria grew up in Breslau, Germany, where she received a degree in chemistry. She was a professional ballerina before moving to the United States. She worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military during Wo...

Obituary: Madelyn StandridgeATKINS — Madelyn Alyse Standridge, 7, of Hector, was granted her angel wings Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. She was born July 31, 2009, in Conway, daughter of Joshua and Casey Millsaps Standridge. Madelyn was the love of her parents’ life. She knew no strangers, and touched the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to know her. She loved to be sung to, be on the move, and demanded attention from everyon...

Obituary: Darrell CuppCLARKSVILLE — Darrell “Richard” Cupp, 73, of Coal Hill, died Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, in Coal Hill. He was born Feb. 13, 1943, in Carthage, Mo, to Mr. Leo and Mildred (Martin) Cupp. Richard served in the United States Air Force during Vietnam and he was in the Air National Guard. He worked as a laser imaging tech, he also worked on the Atlas Missile Systems. He also served as a WIOA board member. In his spare time he volunteered for Interfaith S...

Help requested identifying homicide victimPope County Sheriff Shane Jones requested assistance from the public Monday in identifying a female who was found Saturday outside of Russellville. After the body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, her death was ruled to be a homicide. The female victim, currently being called Jane Doe, is estimated to be between 20 and 25 years old, caucasian, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 104 pounds and has curly auburn hair. The victim has the word “Angel” t...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

New overtime pay rule to affect Arkansas universitiesFAYETTEVILLE — Employees at two Arkansas universities will soon become eligible for overtime compensation under a new U.S. Department of Labor rule. Hundreds of University of Arkansas at Fayetteville workers and about 1,000 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences employees will be affected when the rule takes effect Dec. 1, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/2fMQvBo ). UAMS will increase the salaries of postdoctoral rese...